Two more defenders...

02 September 2008

...but no more strikers. The transfer window has finally closed and Albion have failed to land any of the forwards they had been linked with, which given the lack of finishing ability shown so far this season has got some fans fearing the worst. The loan system can still be used, however, so there's always the possibility that some further moves may be made in due course.

Joining the club are centre halves Ryan Donk and Jonas Olsson, which does at least mean that Albion have two good players in contention for each of the back five slots. Donk has joined on loan from AZ Alkmaar for the rest of the season with a view to a permanent move, is a friend and Dutch U21 colleague of fellow new signing Gianni Zuiverloon and has been likened in style to Jaaop Stam. Olsson is a former Swedish U21 International and has joined on a permanent deal valued at ?800,000 from another Dutch side, NEC Nijmegen, where he has been playing for three years. He's said to be a tough tackler who is comfortable on the ball, and at 6 foot 4 he should help us to handle set pieces a little better.

The much publicised move for Chinese midfielder Zheng Zhi has failed to materialise, as have rumoured moves for David Nugent and others. Albion's Premiership survival now hinges on whether our current crop of forwards can begin putting away some of the many chances being created by the midfield.

Previous Stories:

  23 August 2008:  Tom and Bomber at the Main Branch

  19 August 2008:  Valero signed!

  19 August 2008:  Congratulations, Kim!

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